Scars Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for burn scars of both feet, as there was no evidence that either scar caused any functional impairment or other symptoms warranting a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected prostatitis, bladder outlet obstruction is rated at 20 percent. No other conditions were granted a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left upper arm and forearm with muscle group III and V impairment are not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, but he is granted a 10% rating for a left biceps scar. The other two scars do not warrant compensable evaluations.

The veteran was granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, abdominal scar and vulvar scar with a 10 percent rating assigned. The claims for service connection for atherosclerosis, peripheral enthesopathy, and periodontal disease were denied.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for post-phlebitic syndrome of the right and left lower extremities, effective July 9, 2008.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for tender scars as residuals of the left thigh wound was granted.

The Board found no competent and probative evidence to support a connection between the veteran's service-connected disabilities and his death.

The veteran's claims for initial ratings higher than 10 percent for his service-connected disabilities were denied.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the March 1974 administrative decision that the veteran's discharge was not a bar to VA benefits, and denied service connection for all claimed conditions as the character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new examination and any outstanding medical records.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a scar on the dorsum of the right middle metacarpal was denied as the evidence did not show that the scar caused impairment of function separate and distinct from the underlying bony abnormality.

The veteran's claims for increased initial evaluations for PTSD, residuals of a gunshot wound, bowel resection, and degenerative joint disease, lumbosacral spine, with metallic debris at posterior abdomen at L4-L5 were denied. The veteran was also denied an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for these disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his umbilical herniorrhaphy scar was denied, and the claims to reopen service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right hands were also denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for urethral stricture was not reopened, but a 10 percent rating was granted under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities that interfere with normal employability.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection based on a difference of opinion, as there was no evidence of a 'difference of opinion' between the medical evidence at the time of the June 1969 and March 2003 rating decisions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot disabilities, and a total right knee and left hip replacement were denied. Service connection was granted for scarring of the left tympanic membrane.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his service-connected scar of the right index finger and that there was no basis to increase the 10 percent ratings for osteoarthritis in the knees.

The appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought is already in effect.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for status post lumbar fusion, L4-L5, with Tarlov cysts and denied a compensable evaluation for scar, status post left inguinal hernia repair.